Sonja looks to earn title match

• By Michael Uugwanga

TOP female Muay Thai fighter, Sonja Ndapandula Simon will step into the octagon against South African fighter, Madeli Marloth, on Eclipse Fight League 6, on December 03, in Pretoria, South Africa from which the winner will earn a title match next.

This was revealed by Simon’s coach, Pedro Costa in an interview with Confidente this week.

Simon who only joined Muay Thai in 2019, a sport that is not yet as popular as other codes in the country, has established herself as one of the best fighters on the continent and last fought on August 20 this year against another South African fighter Liandra Backer, in the Super-Featherweight.

Like Simon, her opponent Marloth joined Muay Thai in 2018 and is expected give Simon a tough fight.

Costa said Simon had been hard in the gym and that the winner from the fight would headline a belt match next year with the dates and venue yet to be confirmed.

“Simon has been training hard, fixing mistakes made in the past and improving her technique.

Her opponent is very strong, has a long reach and good technique but Sonja is physically and mentally ready to fight. Sonja and Madeli are fighting for the 2nd contender. The winner is going to fight in the final, next year. Sonja has a record of 2 wins and 2 losses.

I don’t know Madeli’s record but she has close to 10 fights,” Costa said.

Simon trains at Combat Club Windhoek, of which Costa is the owner of the club that also has other few Muay Thai fighters.

Regarded as a potentially dangerous sport that can lead to catastrophic injuries, Muay Thai is an effective weapon for self-defence.

Muay Thai is related to other martial art styles such as musti-yuddha, Adimurai, muay Chaiya, muay boran, muay Lao, lethwei, pradal serey and tomoi.